Cistus creticus L.

Bushy, aromatic shrub to c. 1.5 m tall, with stellate, and sparse glandular hairs. Shoots whitish when young, not viscid. Petioles subsessile to 8 mm long, ± winged. Lamina 1.5–5 × 0.8–2.5 cm, ovate to elliptic, sometimes ± obovate or suborbicular, rugose, moderately hairy on both surfaces and appearing green or somewhat greyish; venation pinnate, impressed above; margins strongly undulate; base cuneate; apex subacute; lf pairs not connate. Cymes up to 6-flowered. Peduncles 1–5.5 cm long, densely covered in stellate hairs and ± pilose; pedicels to 2.5 cm long, more densely pilose than peduncles. Bracts foliose. Sepals 5; outer sepals 1.3–1.7 cm long, broad-ovate, with stellate hairs and pilose, sometimes densely so, cordate at base, acuminate or subulate at apex; inner sepals similar to outer but narrower. Petals (1.5)–2.5–3 cm long, broad-obovate, deep rose with yellow base. Style c. 4 mm long; stigma capitate, of moderate size. Capsule 7–11 mm long, broad-ovoid, silky. Seed angular, puberulent.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Sep.–Dec.